Apparatus facilitating burial in the vertical position

ABSTRACT

A vertical burial system characterized by a plurality of vertically oriented burial bores and a plurality of cylindrical corpse containers disposed vertically in the respective bores. Preferably, each bore contains a casing therewithin that has a plurality of individual supports at different levels for receiving a plurality of the respective vertically disposed corpse containers therewithin. The casings have anchors for preventing being lifted from the bores by bouyancy effects in saturated soils and are sealed against the influx of water. Removable top lids and horizontal tombstones are provided for access and for identification from the top, or surface of the earth. The corpse containers preferably comprise foamed plastic loosely conformably fitting the corpse therewithin for supporting the corpse in the horizontal or vertical position. If desired, the casings, with the respective corpse containers therewithin, may be employed for shipping, as following a common disaster for a family or during war time. In this way, the casing with a plurality of corpse containers therewithin can be emplaced in an automatically drilled bore hole in a cemetary or the like.

United States Patent Eubank Aug. 12, 1975 [54] APPARATUS FACILITATINGBURIAL IN [57] ABSTRACT THE VERTICAL PQSITION A vertical burial systemcharacterized by a plurality of [76] Inventor: Marcus Eubank, BOX 7576,vertically oriented burial bores and a plurality of cylin- Longview,75601 dncal corpse contamers d1sposed vertically in the respectlvebores. Preferably, each bore contains a casmg [22] Flled: 1973therewithin that has a plurality of individual supports [21] APPL No421,043 at different levels for receiving a plurality of the respectivevertically dlsposed corpse contamers therewithin. The casings haveanchors for preventing being [52] U5. Cl. 27/35; 27/7; 27/29; liftedfrom the bores by bouyancy ff i saturated 52/137 soils and are sealedagainst the influx of water. Re-

ovable top and horizontal tombstones are pro- Field of Search 27/2, 3,4i 8, vided for access and for identification from the top, or 27/9, 35;52/128 135, 137 surface of the earth. The corpse containers pr eferablycomprise foamed plastic loosely conformably fitting [56] ReferencesC'ted the corpse therewithin for supporting the corpse in the UNITEDSTATES PATENTS horizontal or vertical position. If desired, the casings,376,629 1/1888 Braund 27/7 with the respective Corpse containerstherewithin, y 965,000 7/1910 Newman 52/136 be employed for shipping, asfollowing a common di- 3,188,712 6/1965 Bauermeister i 27/35 saster fora family or during war time. In this way, the 3,287,865 11/1966 Lockman52/136 casing with a plurality of corpse Containers ther 3,348,28010/1967 Myers 27/2 within can be emplaced in an automatically drilled3,581,452 6/1971 Jalbert..... 27/35 bore hole in a cemetary or the mm3,596,419 8/1971 Jalbert 52/137 Primary Examiner-Richard A. GaudetAssistant Exam iner-Rick Opitz 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Attorney,Agent, or FirmJames C. Fails A r vw @Mgfigfii'fi z 15 5 '2 I I 1. 1 i [j7.- 1 I 2/ PATENT wax 2mm SHEU @GGGC) 0 v i n a ".w @K MX PATENTEB AUG 12|975 M mw g APPARATUS FACILITATING BURIAL IN THE VERTICAL POSITIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to apparatus for shipping and burying corpses. Moreparticularly, it relates to apparatus facilitating burial, yetconserving space.

2. Description of the Prior Art A wide variety of burial systems havebeen known. These systems have ranged from cremation of the corpsesthrough burial of the corpses in the horizontal position. Many familiesare reluctant to cremate their loved ones. Consequently, space forcemetaries and the like has reached a premium as land values haveclimbed and as the large population in the urban areas demand an evergreater proportion of the land. Moreover, the caskets that were employedin the prior art were very ornate caskets that required great care inshipping. Typical of the prior art systems are the coffin containersdescribed in US. Pat. No. 330,432, patented in 1885; the burial vault ofUS. Pat. No. 2,235,185; the mausoleum of US. Pat. No. 1,631,239 and theburial structure for storing ashes or the like described in US. Pat. No.617,161.

None of these systems has provided a totaly satisfactory solution thatdoes not require cremation of ones loved one, yet does not take up somuch area on the earths surface as to be objectionable for futuregenerations. Moreover, the prior art did not provide corpse containersthat could be readily shipped inexpensively.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide apparatusfacilitating burial at a predetermined location and alleviating thedifficulties of the prior art.

It is also a specific object of this invention to provide corpsecontainers that can be readily shipped and that can be buried withoutrequiring an inordinate amount of the earths surface area.

These and other objects will become apparent from the inventiondescribed hereinafter, particularly when taken in conjunction with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a typicalburial plat in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of a couple of the burialstructures as employed in a burial system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of one of the burial structures ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a corpse container of FIG. 2 in the openposition.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view showing a corpse verticallyoriented within the burial structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a plurlaity of casings with corpsecontainers therewithin for shipment of corpses, as from a war zone.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, theburial structure 11 comprises a plurality of vertically oriented burialbores, or bore holes, 13 and a plurality of corpse containers, orcaskets, 15 disposed vertically in the respective bores 13. FIG. 1 showsa plat layout. FIG. 2 shows the cross sectional details of therespective burial bores. To further conserve space. each of the bores 13is preferably adapted to receive a plurality of corpse containers 15vertically disposed therewithin, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Preferably, also, the respective bores 13 each have casings 17 disposedwithin the bore 13 to prevent collapse of the side walls or the like. Asillustrated, the casings 17 are sealed at their bottom end 19, as wellas longitudinally thereof, to prevent the influx of water from the soil.

The bores 13 may take any cross sectional shape desired. Preferably, thebores are drilled from the surface by suitable bits, forming acylindrically shaped bore hole of the desired depth. For example, thebore may be from 18 to 48 inches in diameter, or as desired.Conventional technology is available to drill bore holes up to six feetin diameter so there is no problem in this regard. The bore may bedrilled with conventionally available machinery at its platted location.

The casing 17 may have any cross sectional shape desired. Preferably,the casing 17 is cylindrical for slipping downwardly within thecylindrically shaped bore hole 13.

The casing 17 is emplaced in the burial bore 13 by suitable means toprevent its being lifted therefrom by bouyancy effects when the soiltherearound becomes saturated with water. For example, if desired, thecasing 17 can be cemented into place by cement sheath pouredtherearound, as is conventionally done with surface strings of casing inoil field technology. The casing 17 preferably has respective means;such as, brackets 23 and shafts 25, FIG. 3; for attaching anchors 27'.Thus, the casing may be driven downwardly into the bore 13 and theanchors 27 will fold into a stream line position parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the casing 17 for insertion. Upon slight withdraw],however, the anchors 27 will expand outwardly into their illustratedholding position to retain the casing 17 within the burial bore 13. Ifdesired, both the anchors and the conventional means, such as cementingin place, may be employed to overcome bouyancy effects where the soil israther continuously saturated, as in low lying or swampy areas.

The casing 17 may be formed of any suitable material having the desiredstructural strength for burial or for shipment as described hereinafter.For example, the casing 17 may be formed of suitable structurally strongplastic, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS), Nylon,Delrin or the like. Preferably, the casing 17 is formed of a metal, suchas one of the ferrous metals, for shipment and for use in dry soils. Astructurally strong metal, such as aluminum, magnesium or steel, may beemployed. With most soils, however, it is preferable to employ some ofthe less corrodible metals, such as cast iron or one of the copper basedalloys, such as brass. Similarly, the respective accoutrements, such asbrackets, shafts and anchors are formed of the same material as thecasing 17 to prevent setting up corrosive, or electrolytic cell, actiontherebetween.

In addition to the bottom end 19 that is sealingly connected with thecasing 17, a top lid 27, FIGS. 2 and 3, is employed. The top lid 27 isremovably connected with the casing 17 for allowing access to theinterior of the casing 17 in the bore 13.

A tombstone, such as the horizontal tombstone 29,

. maybe employed over the respective bores 13 with the respective namesand other information that is usually employed on the tombstones. Asillustrated, the tombstone 29 has laterally extending protrusions 31that can be inserted in mating apertures 33, as illustrated in FIG. 2,for maintaining alignment and alleviating problems with vandalism, suchas theft of the tombstones and the like.

For supporting the respective corpse containers at respective levelswithin the casing, a plurality of individual supports 35 are affixed atthe predetermined levels; for example, by welding or being threadedlyemplaced in a coupling means. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 3,each of the supports 35 has diametrically opposed notches 37 forinserting lower lids 39 therethrough. Thus, the lids 39 may be loweredin a vertical position through the upper individual supports until thedesired suport 35 is reached. Thereafter, the lids 39 are removablyemplaced by being allowed to fall into the horizontal position.

The lids 39, as well as the top lid 27, have respective latches 41 forgripping the support rings 35. The latches 41 have an upper handle means43 that can be grasped and lifted upwardly to retract the latches 41 forremoval of the lids 39 and 27. If desired, appropriate apertures orlifting means, may be employed along one or more sides of the respectivelide to facilitate emplacing the lids on the proper support, as well aslowering them through the supports thereabove. The lids 39 arestructurally adequate to support the weight of the corpse containerswith the corpses 45 therewith, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5.

The corpse containers, or caskets, 15 preferably comprise an outer skin47 that, in combination with the remainder of the casket, isstructurally adequate to support the weight of a corpse therewithin.Preferably, the corpse container 15 also comprises corpse support means,such as foamed plastic 49. Achieving adequate structural strength iswell known and has been described in a pamphlet entitled STRUCTURALFOAM, The Society of the Plastics Industry. Therein, the achieving ofstructural foam having integral skins with foamed plastic interiorlythereof and high strength of weight ratios is delineated for severalproducts. These products include high impact polystyrene structuralfoam, medium impact polystyrene structural foam, polypropylenestructural foam and the like. If desired, the skin may be formed of ahigh density or high structural strength foam and the foamed plasticmade from a different foam. In fact, the skin may be made of metal, suchas the corrosion resistant copper-based alloys, or the like. On theother hand, molds for casting material, such as urethane casting and thelike, may be employed. In fact, the polyurethane structural foams forman excellent material for this application, since there is no danger ofpoison gases, such as hydrocyanic acid, formed by heating of thepolyurethane. The corpse containers 15 may be pre-manufactured in avariety of sizes in accordance with conventional practice. If only theshells 47 are premanufactured, the foamed plactic may be injectedtherewithin to conform as nearly as desired to the corpse 45. If thecorpse is to be viewed, it will, of course, be clothed in accordancewith conventional practice. One of the advantages of employing thestructural foamed caskets is that the joint between the two halves maybe sealed by the use of appropriate sealant, such as a solvent andcatalyst, for sealing the top to the bottom when the top is emplacedonto the bottom. This serves to exclude moisture and retard decay. Ifdesired, the corpse container 15 may be encapsulated within additionalstructural elements, such as peripheral bands oran entire shell, orvault, before being emplaced within the casing 17.

In operation, a bore 13 is drilled in its respective platted area intothe subterranean formation. Thereafter, a casing 17 is emplaced withinthe bore 13 and set into place as described hereinbefore. The respectivesupports, or support rings, 35 will be emplaced to support the desirednumber of caskets 15 at their desired locations.

The corpse will be embalmed and prepared for burial in accordance withconventional technology. It will be emplaced within the foamed plastic49 within the shell 47. At an appropriate time, the top half will beemplaced contiguous the bottom half and about the corpse 45. Asindicated hereinbefore, the joint between the top and bottom halves maybe sealed if desired.

The one or more caskets 15 are then lowered into position in the casing17 within the bore 13. If the tolerance is sufficiently close fitting,the air cushion employed in the casing 17 will serve to lower the corpsecontainer 15 slowly to the bottoom end 19, or onto suitable support lid39 that will have been emplaced. On the other hand, it may be desired toprovide a lowering means; such as, a sling or a hook and eye arrangementin the corpse container 15 and the lowering apparatus. Ordinarily, a lid39 will then be emplaced above the respective corpse container. Finally,the top lid 27 will be emplaced over the top end of the casing 17 and atombstone 29 emplaced over the lid 27.

Another embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. Therein,one or more casings 17 have a plurality of respective corpse containers15 disposed therewithin and are sealed at each end by ends 53 forshipment from a given location; such as, a site of a common disaster ora war zone; to one or more burial destinations, such as a centralgovernment cementary. If the number of corpses warrant it, a pluralityof casings 17 maybe banded together by suitable bands 55 for shipmentaboard a ship or the like. When the burial site is reached, therespective casing 17 may be lowered into bores 13 that have been drilledinto the subterranean formation. For this reason, it is imperative thatall of the corpse containers 15 be properly oriented with the headstoward the top and the top position of the casing 17 be plainly markedto facilitate proper insertion into the bores 13.

GENERAL The casings 17 may be maintained dry by keeping asuperatmospheric pressure of nitrogen or the like therewithin.

The respective supports 35 and the lids 39 may be sealed together byemplacement of suitable resilient gaskets therebetween to isolate alower casket in its chamber from an upper chamber in the event of alater burial.

The respective casings 17 may be cleared of any water that may seepthereinto by sealing emplacement of a top lid and blowing the water fromthe casing by air or the like. Thereafter, the point of leaking of thewater thereinto may be sealed, as by injected plastic, cement or thelike.

While the use of foamed plastic for a supporing means has been describedhereinbefore, any other suitable support means desired can be employedas long as adequate support is given to the corpse in the respectivehorizontal and vertical positions. For example, inflatable,compartmentalized air mattresses or the like can be employed if desired.

The term vertically oriented is employed herein to mean that the boresand casings are oriented at an angle of more than 45; and, preferably,about 90; with respect to the horizontal such that only an area of theearths surface equal to the area of the lateral dimensions are required,rather than the area of the lateral and longitudinal dimensions asrequired by conventional horizontal burial.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction and the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A burial structure comprising:

a. a plurality of vertically oriented burial bores;

b. a plurality of respective casings disposed in respective bores, saidcasing being adapted to receive a plurality of vertically orientedcorpse containers and being sealingly connected with a bottom end andsealed against influx of water;

c. removable top lids connected with the top of respective said casingsfor allowing access to the interior of said casing within said bore;

d. individual supports disposed at a plurality of respective levelswithin respective said casings for supporting said corpse containersindividually within each said casing; and

e. a plurality of corpse containers having corpses therewithin anddisposed in vertical orientations within respective said casings withinrespective said bores on respective said individual supports; saidcorpse containers including foamed plastic loosely conformably fittingboth front and back of said corpse therewithin for supporting saidcorpse in a vertical position; said corpse containers comprising a highdensity plastic skin that is unitary with a foamed plastic interior;said high density skin and said foamed plastic interior being sealableabout a corpse before being disposed vertically in said casing withinsaid bore; said foamed plastic traversing both in front of and in backof said corpse and extending to meet and mate with the foamed plastic inthe opposite half when said corpse container is closed about said corpsesuch that sealant can be disposed on the mating surfaces of said foamedplastic, as well as said high density skin, to seal said corpsecontainer.

2. The burial structure of claim 1 wherein said individual supports haverespective lid poritons that are removably connected with said casingfor removal subsequent to installation.

3. The burial structure of claim 1 wherein said casing have anchors forpreventing being lifted from said bores by bouyancy effects in saturatedsoils.

4. Apparatus for shipping and burying corpses comprising:

a. a plurality of elongate cylindrical containers having a top endplainly marked for proper orientation when inserted within a verticallyoriented burial bore;

a plurality of corpse containers disposed in end-toend and head-to-footrelationship with heads toward the top within each said elongatecylindrical container and supported individually therewithin; saidcorpse container comprising a high density plastic skin that is unitarywith a foamed plastic interior; said high density skin and said foamedplastic interior being sealable about a corpse before being disposedvertically in said casing within said bore; said foamed plastictraversing both in front of and in back of said corpse and extending tomeet and mate with the foamed plastic in the opposite half when saidcorpse container is closed about said corpse such that sealant can bedisposed on the mating surfaces of said foamed plastic, as well as saidhigh density skin, to seal said corpse container; said foamed plasticloosely conformably fitting both front and back of a corpse therewithinfor supporting said corpse in either of the horizontal or verticalpositions; and

0. ends connected to each end of said elongate cylindrical container andholding said corpse containers longitudinally disposed therewithin.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said elongate cylindrical containershave means for attaching a plurality of anchors for preventing beinglifted from burial bores in saturated soil by bouyancy effects.

1. A burial structure comprising: a. a plurality of vertically orientedburial bores; b. a plurality of respective casings disposed inrespective bores, said casing being adapted to receive a plurality ofvertically oriented corpse containers and being sealingly connected witha bottom end and sealed against influx of water; c. removable top lidsconnected with the top of respective said casings for allowing access tothe interior of said casing within said bore; d. individual supportsdisposed at a plurality of respective levels within respective saidcasings for supporting said corpse containers individually within eachsaid casing; and e. a plurality of corpse containers having corpsestherewithin and disposed in vertical orientations within respective saidcasings within respective said bores on respective said individualsupports; said corpse containers including foamed plastic looselyconformably fitting both front and back of said corpse therewithin forsupporting said corpse in a vertical position; said corpse containerscomprising a high density plastic skin that is unitary with a foamedplastic interior; said high density skin and said foamed plasticinterior being sealable about a corpse before being disposed verticallyin said casing within said bore; said foamed plastic traversing both infront of and in back of said corpse and extending to meet and mate withthe foamed plastic in the opposite half when said corpse container isclosed about said corpse such that sealant can be disposed on the matingsurfaces of said foamed plastic, as well as said high density skin, toseal said corpse container.
 2. The burial structure of claim 1 whereinsaid individual supports have respective lid poritons that are removablyconnected with said casing for removal subsequent to installation. 3.The burial structure of claim 1 wherein said casing have anchors forpreventing being lifted from said bores by bouyancy effects in saturatedsoils.
 4. Apparatus for shipping and burying corpses comprising: a. aplurality of elongate cylindrical containers having a top end plainlymarked for proper orientation when inserted within a vertically orientedburial bore; b. a plurality of corpse containers disposed in end-to-endand head-to-foot relationship with heads toward the top within each saidelongate cylindrical container and supported individually therewithin;said corpse container comprising a high density plastic skin that isunitary with a foamed plastic interior; said high density skin and saidfoamed plastic interior being sealable about a corpse before beingdisposed vertically in said casing within said bore; said foamed plastictraversing both in front of and in back of said corpse and extending tomeet and mate with the foamed plastic in the opposite half when saidcorpse container is closed about said corpse such that sealant can bedisposed on the mating surfaces of said foamed plastic, as well as saidhigh density skin, to seal said corpse container; said foamed plasticloosely conformably fitting both front and back of a corpse therewithinfor supporting said corpse in either of the horizontal or verticalpositions; and c. ends connected to each end of said elongatecylindrical container and holding said corpse containers longitudinallydisposed therewithin.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said elongatecylindrical containers have means for attaching a plurality of anchorsfor preventing being lifted from burial bores in saturated soil bybouyancy effects.